NewsWrap
for the week ending March 10, 2001
(As broadcast on This Way Out program #676, distributed 03-12-01)
[Written by Cindy Friedman, with thanks to Graham Underhill, Chris Ambidge,
Brian Nunes, Jason Lin, Rex Wockner, Greg Gordon & Lucia Chappelle]
Anchored by Chase Schulte and Cindy Friedman
More than a quarter-century after their American counterparts, the Chinese
Psychiatric Association has removed homosexuality from its listing of mental
disorders. The Association's standing committee voted unanimously for the
change in February after five years of study and it will appear in the new
"Chinese Classification and Diagnostic Criteria of Mental Disorders" to be
published in April. Just seven years ago, the Chinese guidelines had
specifically opposed a call by the World Health Organization for equal
treatment of gays and lesbians, after WHO itself delisted homosexuality in
1993. Now Chinese psychiatrists are identifying homosexuality as part of
normal sexual behavior and hoping to create a more "tolerant and
understanding attitude" towards their gay and lesbian patients, although they
have no plans to work for social change. Chinese gays and lesbians in
psychiatric facilities had often been treated with electroshock or other
aversion therapy, although they were more frequently imprisoned at
"re-education camps" as social deviants. Among Asian nations, China follows
Japan, Korea, Taiwan, and Hong Kong in recognizing that gays and lesbians are
not mentally ill per se. Chinese psychiatrists retain a controversial
listing of a "disturbance" called "ego-dystonic homosexuality" for those
people who are distressed by their homosexual feelings. One Chinese gay
activist called the psychiatrists' change a "great leap forward," but little
help is expected from the government or the media in disseminating the news
outside the psychiatric profession.
Primates of the global Anglican Communion at their annual meeting this week
resisted calls to suspend the U.S. Episcopal Church for its acceptance of
gays and lesbians. Two archbishops representing the West Indies and six South
American countries charged that U.S. tolerance had "come to threaten the
unity of the communion in a profound way." Asian and African leaders of the
77-million-member denomination have previously overwhelmingly affirmed the
sinfulness of homosexual acts, and rejected moves to ordain non-celibate gays
and lesbians and to celebrate their relationships. The U.S. branch is
sharply divided on these issues but some of its dioceses have ordained openly
partnered gays and lesbians and its General Assembly last year approved a
resolution acknowledging the value of loving partnerships. The primates'
final statement about their closed-door meeting called for study, discussion
and prayer but also promised "to seek to avoid actions that might damage the
credibility of our mission."
Norway's state church would have to give partnered gay and lesbian clergy
equal consideration for any of its jobs under a bill the Government
introduced this week. The Lutheran Church of Norway, whose members comprise
more than 85% of the nation, is government-funded and its employees are
technically civil servants. The church's ruling national congress had
decided in 1997 that partnered gays and lesbians could not serve in
consecrated roles, primarily those of preachers and bishops. But the
Government bill could override that decision, something that was foreshadowed
when openly partnered gay Jens Torstein Olsen won a ministerial appointment
to an Oslo church last year.
Namibia's Supreme Court in a split decision this week set aside a key
ruling recognizing same-gender partners. High Court Judge Harold Levy had
twice ruled that German national Liz Frank should be granted permanent
residency based on her partnership with Namibian Elizabeth Khaxas and her
co-parenting of Khaxas' son. But two of the three Supreme Court justices
rejected equal recognition of lesbian or gay relationships, saying the
framers of the national constitution had never intended it. The Supreme
Court majority also found that those couples and their children could not be
considered "family". They cited homophobic remarks by President Sam Nujoma
and Home Secretary Jerry Ekandjo as evidence of the nation's dominant values
which needed to be considered. The Immigration Selection Board will now have
to reconsider Frank's application. The Chief Justice did not discuss the
partnership at all in his dissent, but felt that Frank's permanent residency
should be granted based on a negligent delay in the filing of the
government's appeal. Frank, an educator, has lived in Namibia since 1990.
Her past activism for Namibia's independence had won support for her
permanent residency from a number of leading Namibians.
Neighboring Zimbabwe's President Robert Mugabe this week was once again the
target of an attempted arrest for human rights abuses by veteran British gay
activist Peter Tatchell, this time in Belgium. Belgium is a signatory to an
international convention for the arrest of torturers, a convention Tatchell
had previously tried to use against Mugabe in London in October 1999.
Although Mugabe is Africa's most vocal homophobe, Tatchell's primary charges
against him are for authorizing the torture of two Zimbabwean journalists, as
documented by international human rights groups. But while Tatchell's
earlier attempt led only to assault charges against him which were dropped,
in Belgium he was beaten and threatened with death by Mugabe's bodyguards
while Belgian security personnel looked on.
First Tatchell approached Mugabe in a hotel lobby, only to be grabbed,
punched and kicked by four bodyguards. Tatchell caught up with Mugabe again
on the sidewalk outside, only to be grabbed around the neck and slammed
against the hotel window by two Belgian secret service agents. Those agents
then walked away to allow two Mugabe bodyguards to again punch Tatchell to
the ground. Undeterred, Tatchell ran in front of Mugabe's limousine and
forced it to stop, but another bodyguard quickly emerged and knocked Tatchell
unconscious into the gutter. Both inside and outside the hotel, Mugabe's
entourage also attacked reporters observing the assaults on Tatchell.
Tatchell vowed to continue his quest to hold Mugabe accountable for human
rights abuses. He said, "What was done to me was of no real consequence
compared to the far, far greater brutality that is meted out to the people of
Zimbabwe by the Mugabe regime."
Open gay Peter Mandelson has been cleared of any wrongdoing by an
investigation of the incident that forced his late January resignation from
the British Cabinet. The inquiry led by Sir Anthony Hammond found that "Mr.
Mandelson behaved perfectly properly" and did not attempt to influence the
Home Office regarding a passport application by one of the Hinduja brothers,
billionaire Indian arms dealers. Hammond also said that he found "No reason
to doubt Mr. Mandelson's honesty throughout the period." As a relieved
Mandelson summarized it, "Sir Anthony's report establishes that I did not
lie; that I did not deceive; that I did not set out to mislead." Hammond
described the whole affair as characterized by confusion, admitting he's
still not entirely clear on what happened.
Although Hammond found no reason that Mandelson should have had to resign,
another Cabinet appointment seems unlikely.
Prime Minister Tony Blair did not wish to discuss the case, wanting the
affair to be over and done, and Mandelson denied any desire to return to the
Cabinet.
Rhode Island state Representative Nancy Hetherington publicly identified
herself as a lesbian for the first time this week. The Democrat who's
represented Cranston in the legislature since 1994 came out in an op-ed piece
in the "Providence Journal-Bulletin" in which she urged enactment of her bill
to create Vermont-style civil unions for gay and lesbian couples. Open gays
in the Rhode Island state House are Democrats Mike Pisaturo of Cranston and
David Cicilline of Providence.
Rural Australia got a taste of pride this month as Swan Hill's first
BreakOut gay and lesbian festival proved an unqualified success. The
Victorian gold-mining town's council supported the festival despite vocal
opposition that included the local newspaper. The event's original organizer
Scott Wheatland was essentially run out of town as his business was boycotted
and his parents were harassed. But none of the threatened protests
materialized at the festival itself. Instead, 400 people gathered
undisturbed and had a good time. About two-thirds of them came from
out-of-town, but for some of the Swan Hill residents the event marked their
first public identification as gays and lesbians. Another first-time rural
festival going forward despite protests will be held this month in the center
of Australia, Alice Springs.
The winner of Cambodia's first major national drag beauty contest is more
than just another pretty face. 19-year-old Leang Sothea, professionally
known as Miss Poppy, used her nationally televised victory as a platform to
call for understanding for transgendered people. She said, "Cambodians
regard people like me as third class. We are the most hated among the
general Cambodian people, but this opportunity to perform has encouraged me
to be strong and fight for our rights. I appeal to the Cambodian people to
open their hearts. ... I hurt so much when I hear people yelling at me, 'You,
gay!' ... But now I am over the moon because people call me a beautiful girl."
And finally... in a promotion for music education, a poll of teachers,
students, journalists and elected officials by the U.S. National Endowment
for the Arts and the Recording Industry Association of America has selected
"The 365 Songs of the 20th Century". Number 7 was the original cast
recording of "West Side Story", with music and lyrics by gays Leonard
Bernstein and Stephen Sondheim. Topping the list, as most diva worshippers
would agree, is Judy Garland's rendition of "Over the Rainbow".